Multi-authoring within benefits content system

• US 20060235738A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMR LLC
• Original Assignee: FMR LLC
• Inventors: Gifford, Doug, Doyle, Judy, Politano, Remo
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2343 Locking methods, e.g. distributed locking or locking implementation details
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group

Abstract

Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for multi-authoring within a benefits content management the system. Relationships are defined between content elements of the benefits content system. A first request is received to change a first content element of the benefits content system. Other content elements of the benefits content system having a relationship to the first content element are identified. A user interface is provided on a computing device to enable a user associated with the first request to control access by other users attempting to change one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the first element while the user associated with the first request is changing the first content element.

Claims

1. A computerized method for multi-user authoring within a benefits content system, the method comprising:

defining relationships between content elements associated with the benefits content system;

receiving a first request to change a first content element of the benefits content system;

identifying other content elements of the benefits content system having a relationship to the first content element; and

providing a user interface on a computing device to enable a user associated with the first request to control access by other users attempting to change one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the first element while the user associated with the first request is changing the first content element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing comprises:

providing a user interface on a computing device to enable a user associated with the first request,

(i) to check out one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the first element, or

(ii) to select a notification type to be provided to other users attempting to change one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the first element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the notification type comprises a lock status that prevents another user from entering a change or a warn status that allows another user to enter a change and indicates that the first content element is being changed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second request to change a second content element having a relationship to the first content element;

providing to a user associated with the second request a first message indicating that changing the second content element is prohibited if the user associated with the first request has checked out the second content element or has selected a notification type of lock for the second content element; and

providing to a user associated with the second request a second message indicating that the first content element is being modified if the user associated with the first request has not checked out the second content element or has not selected a notification type of lock for the second content element.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying other content elements of the benefits content system having a relationship to the second content element; and

providing a user interface on a computing device to enable the user associated with the second request,

(i) to check out one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the second content element, or

(ii) to select a notification type to be provided to other users attempting to change one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the second content element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein defining comprises defining a relationship between the first content element and a variable that is used by the first content element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein defining comprises defining a relationship between the first content element and a second content element that has shared content with the first content element.

8. The method of claim 1, employing a source control feature comprising generating an audit trail, releasing associations, including change history to reverse changes, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing access to a desired content element of the benefits content system based on a characteristic of a user attempting to access the desired content element.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the user attempting to access the desired content element comprises an employer associated with that user, an employee group associated with that user, a user identification group associated with that user, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a user interface to enable an administrator to select the characteristic used to determine whether access is allowed.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing access to a desired content element of the benefits content system based on a characteristic of the desired content element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristic of the desired content element comprises a subject associated with that desired content element, a plan associated with that desired content element, a policy associated with that desired content element, a company associated with that desired content element, an indicator associated with that desired content element, or any combination thereof, wherein the indicator indicates whether a particular user is allowed access.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a user interface to enable an administrator to select the characteristic used to determine whether access is allowed.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

instantiating a local database associated with the user making the first request; and

employing a work flow process to automatically move the changed first content element from the local database to a common database after the change is completed.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising indicating the change is completed by changing a status indicator in the work flow process.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising enabling an administrator to view the status indicator and to modify priorities of moves scheduled in a queue.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing the work flow process to automatically move from the local database to the common database, after the change is completed, any of the other content elements having a relationship to the first content element that were checked out.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing the work flow process to automatically unlock, after the change is completed, any of the other content elements with a relationship to the first content element that were locked in the common database.

20. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for multi-user authoring within a benefits content system, the computer program product including instructions being operable to cause data processing apparatus to:

define relationships between content elements associated with the benefits content system;

receive a first request to change a first content element of the benefits content system;

identify other content elements of the benefits content system having a relationship to the first content element; and

provide a user interface on a computing device to enable a user associated with the first request to control access by other users attempting to change one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the first element while the user associated with the first request is changing the first content element.

21. A system for multi-user authoring within a benefits content system, the system comprising a computing device configured to:

define relationships between content elements associated with the benefits content system;

receive a first request to change a first content element of the benefits content system;

identify other content elements of the benefits content system having a relationship to the first content element; and

provide a user interface on a computing device to enable a user associated with the first request to control access by other users attempting to change one or more of the other content elements having a relationship to the first element while the user associated with the first request is changing the first content element.